France fails to get G8 accord on Libya no-fly zone

[Baclava]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - France failed on Tuesday to persuade its G8 partners to support its push for a no-fly zone over Libya, a setback to any chances of swift action to halt Muammar Gaddafi's advance against rebel forces.

In a blow too to France's efforts to use the crisis in Libya to reassert its leadership in international diplomacy, a draft communique for the Group of Eight meeting made no mention of a no-fly zone over the North African nation.

The flight restrictions sought by France and Britain were blocked by Russia and Germany during Tuesday's talks, a delegation source told Reuters, asking not to be identified.

"Military intervention is not the solution. From our point of view it is very difficult and dangerous," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle later told reporters.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/15/us-g8-libya-idUSTRE72E0BX20110315

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Now what?

[midnight]

1. K&R...

[jkappy]

2. Very Good. UN alone should enforce a no-fly zone

not England, not France, and clearly not the US. Actually the US would be the enforcer--paid in part by western countries. As bad as the situation might be in Libya, the UN alone must step in--that is their role.

[Posteritatis]

14. Do you understand how the UN works? (nt)

[dipsydoodle]

3. Russia would do the same

by vetoing the suggestion if it got to the UN.

[Baclava]

4. UN Security Council divided over no-flying zone in Libya

The UN Security Council on Monday wrangled over Arab calls for a Libya no-fly zone with Russia insisting "fundamental questions" remain over the action.

Britain and France are drawing up a draft no-fly zone resolution and their efforts have been boosted by Arab League support. Russia and China are leading opposition while the United States, Germany and others have doubts.

Russia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said crucial questions over how the zone would operate have not been answered by its supporters. "As far as we are concerned there are some fundamental questions that need to be answered," Churkin told reporters as he left the Security Council talks. "If there is a no-fly zone, who is going to implement the no-fly zone? How the no-fly zone is going to be implemented?" he asked.

"We have not had enough information. To say 'we need to act quickly,' 'as fast as possible' but not to provide the fundamental answers to those fundamental questions, to us is not really helping. It is just beating the air."

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/un-council-divided-over-calls-for-libya-nofly-zone-20110315-1busb.html

[HereSince1628]

5. They ought to go ahead and enforce it themselves...

It would be quickly recognized by everyone, and it would do the anti-dictator forces a world of good.

I DO understand that isn't necessarily good for all those Kapitalists who have supported the dictator for the profits from their barrels of oil.

[Crowman1979]

6. I think Egypt may have to take control of this situation.

[femrap]

7. Well,

Germany and Russia have blood on their hands....Does Germany get oil from Libya as does Italy?

[Baclava]

8. They get some - Italy is by far the biggest importer of Libyan oil

then France and China - Germany is 4th

[femrap]

13. I can't wait for the day when

we have absolutely no need for oil nor gas.

[SkyDaddy7]

9. MY PREDICTION....

Gaddafi takes his country back in brutal bloodbath & the Republicans blame Obama. Screw the Republicans if they do because I think the US Military is opposed to the idea as well.

[David__77]

11. I don't think so.

I don't think there will be any negative political consequence to not intervening. The people of the US don't want another war, and I believe Obama will be rewarded for taking the right position.

[SkyDaddy7]

18. Well, I wish I could agree but...

If there is something I think everyone should have learned by now and that is the Republicans via FOX "News", Talk Radio & a AWOL MSM have a very good ability of getting the public to turn against or for issues they were for or against!

Plus, the latest poll to come out shows 56% approval for a no fly zone! WE NEVER LEARN!!
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51276.html


YES, the Republicans could very well use Libya against Obama if he did not intervene especially if things get even worse and/or Gaddafi takes back the entire country!

Never under estimate the power of Right Wing Media in this country!!

[Posteritatis]

15. It seems likely, and I wonder if they wouldn't be right to

But then again, I'm cynical about "wait until the killing's stopped and then maybe consider sanctions," that being the standard approach to humanitarian abuses in Africa for the last fifteen years.

[SkyDaddy7]

17. Like all the other Problems Obama has to deal with...

There is no simple answer or really no correct way of dealing with them...Damned if do damned if you don't!

Yes, my first instinct is get in there & eliminate Gaddafi's airforce...But then I feel like we should not even consider it without the UN backing it. But I know that will not happen unless it gets so bad that China & Russia come on board...But it may never get bad enough for them to approve especially China!

What nasty situation!

[Baclava]

10. Send in the French Foreign Legion - they must have a sniper team

I predict the UN will drag it's feet for another month - nobody wants a war if they can avoid it.

[Lord Magus]

12. If France is so big on the idea of a no-fly zone, why not do it themselves?

They've got sufficient military capability for that.

[Posteritatis]

16. Because they seem to kinda like international law, which frowns on unilateral acts like that? (nt)